Khelo India Para Games Team 2025: Haryana Retain Championship With 34 Golds, Tamil Nadu Runners-Up; Full Medal Tally Of States

New Delhi, March 27: Haryana once again asserted its dominance in para-sports, securing the team championship at the second edition of the Khelo India Para Games (KIPG) 2025.

The eight-day event concluded on Thursday (March 27), with Haryana claiming the top spot with 34 gold medals. Tamil Nadu (28 golds) and Uttar Pradesh (23 golds) finished second and third, respectively, in the overall standings.

KIPG 2025 witnessed intense competition, featuring nearly 1300 para-athletes competing across six sporting disciplines. The action unfolded at three premier venues in New Delhi, i.e. Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, IG Indoor Stadium, and Karni Singh Shooting Range. The event showcased remarkable resilience, sportsmanship, and the triumph of the human spirit.

Record-Breaking Feats at KIPG 2025

A total of 18 national records were shattered at KIPG 2025. Notable performances in para powerlifting saw gold medal triumphs from Jaspreet Kaur (Punjab), Manish Kumar (Haryana), Seema Rani (Punjab), and Jhandu Kumar (Bihar). In athletics, 14 track and field athletes, including Dilip Mahadu Gavit (Maharashtra), Sharath Makanahalli Shankarappa (Karnataka), and Manjeet (Haryana), set new benchmarks in their respective categories.

The event highlighted the rising dominance of women in para sports, with 12 female athletes setting new national records. In total, 596 medals (189 gold, 189 silver, and 218 bronze) were awarded, with male athletes winning 346 medals and female athletes securing 250.

Haryana's Continued Supremacy at KIPG

Haryana successfully defended its title, winning 104 medals overall (34 gold, 39 silver, and 31 bronze). In the inaugural KIPG, held in December 2023, the state won 105 medals, with 40 golds.

Tamil Nadu improved on its previous third-place finish, climbing to second with 74 medals (28 gold, 19 silver, and 27 bronze). Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh, which had been the runner-up in the previous edition, finished third this time with 64 medals (23 gold, 21 silver, and 20 bronze).

Gujarat's Table Tennis Domination

On the final day, Gujarat took center stage in the table tennis competition at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. The state won 21 medals, including four golds, five silvers, and 12 bronze medals. Haryana bagged eight medals in the discipline, including three golds.

Among the standout performances was 50-year-old Yezdi Aspi Bhamgara from Gujarat, who claimed gold in the Men's Class 6 category after defeating Vikas Thakur 3-1. Having played para table tennis since 2005 despite cerebral palsy, Bhamgara expressed his delight at winning the title. "I have been playing this sport for nearly 40 years, and winning this gold medal is a testament to the dedication I put in every day," he said.

In the women's section, Gujarat's Bhavika Kukadiya, who also has cerebral palsy, emerged victorious in the Women's Class 6 final, defeating her state-mate Jamani Nirjahan Noorali 3-1. Bhavika credited her journey to perseverance, saying, "I never thought I would pursue sports, but discovering para table tennis changed my life. Today, I am proud to represent India on the international stage."

Final Table Tennis Results (All Finals):

Men's Class 6:

• Gold - Yezdi Aspi Bhamgara (Gujarat)
• Silver - Vikas Thakur (Gujarat)

Men's Class 7:

• Gold - Sanjeev Hammannavar (Karnataka)
• Silver - Shivam Pal (Uttar Pradesh)

Women's Class 6:

• Gold - Bhavika Kukadiya (Gujarat)
• Silver - Jamani Noorali (Gujarat)

Women's Class 7:

• Gold - Prachi Pandey (Uttar Pradesh)
• Silver - Kanchan Ban (Rajasthan)

Men's Class 8:

• Gold - Shashidhar Kulkarni (Karnataka)
• Silver - Parmar Gajanan (Madhya Pradesh)

Women's Class 8:

• Gold - Nisha Innani (Telangana)
• Silver - Savita Ajjanakatti (Karnataka)

Men's Class 9:

• Gold - Dattaprasad Jotiram Chougule (Maharashtra)
• Silver - Ravinder Yadav (Haryana)

Women's Class 9:

• Gold - Mehak Kaur (Haryana)
• Silver - Baby Sahana (Tamil Nadu)

Men's Class 10:

• Gold - Vishwa Vijay Tambe (Maharashtra)
• Silver - Jagannath Mukherjee (Haryana)

Women's Class 10:

• Gold - Devyani Walhe (Madhya Pradesh)
• Silver - Natania Jain (Delhi)

Medal Tally of Khelo India Para Games 2025